Orthopedic device



Nov. 28, 1950 A. J. WEBER ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 7, 1947 PatentedNov. 28, 1950 TED rarsur OFFICE *ORTHGPEDIC *DEV'I CE Andrew ,J. Weber,Milwaukee, :Wis. ApplicationNovember 7, 19141 ficiiiaLNg; 7 84 ,539

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to orthopedic appliances and refers particularlytowa golevice ,adapted to be wornby persons afflicted with drop footwhich generally results from an injury to the peroneal nerve which formsthe lateral partoi the sciatic nerve. Thismerve commonly knownas-rthe-external...popliteal -nerve,':.by its branches, supplies tallthemuscles of itheanterior part of the leg and the dorsum of the foot andall of the toes for all functions in dorsal elevation. A person thusaifiicted cannot draw the toe of his foot upwardly and as a consequencethe toe drags as he walks,

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which willadequately support the foot as a whole of a person aiilicted with dropfoot and yet permit complete dorsal and plantar flexion to therebyenable substantially normal walking.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which is easily applied and comfortable in use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an orthopedicappliance for the purpose set forth which is relatively inconspicuous,at least when worn by a man.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the bestmode so far devised for the practical application of the principlesthereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an orthopedic device embodying thisinvention; and

Figure 2 is a side view thereof to illustrate particularly the manner inwhich it supports the toe.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 5designates an upper strap adapted to embrace the leg of the wearer abovethe knee. This strap consists of a U- shaped metal piece encased withina leather sheath provided with suitable padding and a I buckle 6 with acooperating tie strap l.

Rigidly secured to and extending down from the strap 5 are two rigidarms 8. the lower ends of which have links 9 pivoted thereto as at l8.The lower ends of the links have elongated slots l-l toslidabl-yreceivekey-portions -12 fixed to the sides of a lower strap-13."Thislower strap, like the upperpone, consists of a U-shaped metal piecesheathed inpadded leather and likewise provided with a buckle M and atie strap 15. Screws is threaded into the'key portions 12 provide meansfor locking the lower strap to the links at any position of elevationalongthe length ofthe slots 11. 'The'proper elevation is determined bythe length of the tibia, it being understood that when the device is inplace the hinged connections IE2 are substantially in line with the kneejoint.

Projecting down from and rigidly secured to the back of the lower strapis a spring steel strip ll covered with leather. The lower end of thisstrip is bent forwardly as at l 8 and has a shoe 15 secured thereto.This portion I8 of the spring steel strip extends through an opening inthe heel 20 of the shoe and is bolted or otherwise secured to the soleof the shoe.

The angle defined between the vertical portion of the spring steel stripI! and its shoe carrying projection I3 is acute so that as long as theupper end of the strip is firmly anchored, the toe of the shoe will beheld up. The necessary firm anchorage of the lower strap I3 is obtainedthrough its described connection with the upper strap 5. Through thisconnection, i. e., the arms 8 and links 9, the lower strap E3 is held ina plane substantially normal to the axis of the tibia. This holds thespring steel strip l? in the position required to yieldingly hold thetoe up.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatthis invention provides an orthopedic device which not only correctsdrop foot but adequately supports the entire foot in an upwardly tiltedposition to thereby relieve the tension on the peroneal nerve whichresults from injury to the nerve. In addition the brace allows fordorsal and plantar flexion of the foot to thereby enable normal exercisesuch as derived from walking. With the foot so supported a nerve whichhas been injured but not destroyed may have an excellent chance ofregaining its normal function. This is accomplished with a minimum ofdiscomfort and embarassment as the device is relatively inconspicuouswhen in use, the entire mechanism, with the exception of the extremelower portion of the spring Steel porting strip i7, being concealedwithin the trouser leg,

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An orthopedic device of the character described, comprising: a strapadapted to embrace the leg of a wearer above the knee; a strap adaptedto embrace the leg of the wearer below the knee; downwardly projectingarms rigidly secured to the sides of the upper strap; a link hinged tothe lower end of each of said arms; means securing said links to thesides of the lower strap, said means allowing adjustment of the positionof the lower strap along the length of the links and rigidly holding thelower strap in a position substantially normal to the plane of thelinks; a spring strip fixed to and extending down from the back of thelower strap so as to lie along the back of the wearers calf; and a shoesecured to the lower end of said spring strip, the resiliency of saidstrip yieldingly holding the entire shoe tilted upwardly about atransverse axis adjacent to the back of the shoe so that the generalplane of the shoe sole forms an acute angle to said spring strip.

2. An orthopedic appliance, comprising: an upper strap adapted to beapplied to the leg of the wearer above the knee; a lower strap adaptedto be applied below the knee, a joint connection between said strapscomprising hinged rigid members, said connection holding the lower strapin a fixed position substantially normal to the axis of the tibia; ashoe; and a solid resilient metal strip having substantial width topreclude edgewise bending thereof, flatwise anchored to the back portionof said lower strap and extending downwardly therefrom so as to lieflatwise along the back of the leg of the wearer and having a rigidconnection at its lower end with the extreme rear portion of the shoeand with the plane of the bearing surface of the shoe in an upwardlytilted position and forming an acute angle with the resilient strip,said resilient strip although precluded from edgewise bending to preventtwisting motion of the shoe such that turning of the ankle of the weareris prevented providing for movement of the shoe against the resilienceof said resilient strip such that plantar and dorsal flexion of the footis permitted.

ANDREW J. WEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 431,797 Blattmachr July 8, 18901,332,047 Lasher Feb. 24, 1920 2,444,839 Markkula July 6, 1948

